KSE Signalling Project

The latest update from our Civil Engineering Team Leader, Bob Tyson: Hello bloggers – I think I should begin this week by apologizing for my tardiness in reporting progress on our build, but the weather has been such that we have struggled to get much work done. However, a couple of rain-free days last Saturday and yesterday have seen further inexorable rises in the locking room walls – particularly around the doorway which is now well advanced – please see the attached photos. We have also taken delivery of two beautifully machine-cut sandstone lintels that will head both the doorway and the window of the locking room giving a much more finished look to both these openings. Weather-permitting, there will be further progress reports soon. Finally, the signaling team led by Tim & Steve are also making good progress on various components and we hope to also update you on their work soon.

 The latest update from our Civil Engineering Team Leader, Bob Tyson: A nice sunny day at KSE yesterday. Further work on the signal box saw us begin to reconstruct the missing stone jamb (an upright piece or surface forming the side of an opening as for a door, window or fireplace) of the locking room doorway. Someone, all those years ago, had decided to knock down half of a doorway – quite why only one half we will never know, but there you are…  Looking at the first photo, you will see that the original jamb is in a very poor state with fractured stones, no pointing to speak of and cement stains all over the place. As a result, considerable remedial work will be required to bring this to a state where we can attach the door frame. Hopefully, our next session will bring the doorway to its full height ready for the placing of the lintel. Onward and upward as they say.

The weather has been kind to us today and the external walls of our signal box have risen inch by tortuous inch, like a phoenix from the ashes, as we spend several hours painstakingly selecting and fitting stone to stone in such a way as to make it appear random, or some may say, haphazard. The new stones match the lone surviving wall from the 1861 box remarkably well.   The work involved to achieve this effect is considerable, backbreaking and rewarding – all at the same time. We are intending to capitalize on this projected short spell of mild autumn weather and will hopefully be able to report further progress shortly, providing that is, our aching backs can take the strain. Many thanks to Bob for the update.